Improvement in elevators for dwellings



GLR. POTTER. ELEVATORJFO'R DWELIQYINGS.

Patented Dec.14 1875;

MPE'IHRS, PHOTD-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C

. an elevation of my improved device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. POTTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELEVATORS FOR DWELLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,167, dated December14, 1875; application filed December 1, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. POTTER, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Elevators for Dwellings, which improvements arefully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a device adapted to be used in dwellings andother buildings, in the open space abovea flight of stairs, for raisingand lowering persons, goods, 860., to and from different floors.

The nature of my invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe carriage and seat; Fig. 3 shows the carriage with one of its sidepieces removed.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A represents a flight of stairs, and B an inclined rail, rod, or cable,arranged in the open space above the flight of stairs, near one sidethereof, with its ends to the floor O and wall D, or suitable supports,no intermediate supports being required. E represents a movable carriagerunning on the rail B, as shown in the drawing. It consists of two sidepieces, 6 0, connected by suitable stays, and inclosing two groovedwheels, ff, running on the rail B. G is a seat, attached to the underside of the carriage E by means of two pairs of rods or hangers, g, thecarriage being above the rail and the seat below the same, while eachpair of hangers is arranged on opposite sides of the rail, therebyretaining the carriage in its proper position thereon. h is a cord orcableattached to the upper end of the carriage, passing over a sheave orguide-roller, j, and connectingwith a weight, H, moving in any suitablespace or vertical chamber, is. The weight H consists, preferably, of ahollow case or box, in which are placed detachable blocks or weights ofthe required gravity, thereby rendering the weight adjustable. l is aspringcatch, arranged near the lower end of the rail B, so as to engagewith the carriage when in its lowest position, and securely lock thesame therein. The weight H is so adjusted as to be somewhat in excess ofthe average load to be raised.

Upon placing the person to be raised in the seat G and disengaging thecatch the weight H will draw the carriage and seat upward, by means ofthe rope h, until the landing is reached, when the weight strikes asuitable stop in the chamber k, thereby arresting its movement and thatof the carriage and seat. The latter are then returned to their lowerposition by a servant or other attendant.

If desired, a rope or cord may be attached to the rear end of thecarriage, so as to enable the attendant to draw the carriage downwithout requiring him to ascend the stairs for the purpose. I

My improved elevator is of greatconverr ience in dwelling-houses, inenabling invalids to pass from one floor to another with great ease, andin many other respects, while it can be readily arranged in the spaceabove the stairs without interfering with the ordinary use thereof.

What I claim as my invention is The combination, with the inclined railor cable B, of the carriage F, suspended seat G,

